Trajectory Changing Zipline System

ABSTRACT

A trajectory changing zipline system has a zipline support rail, a zipline trolley, and a pair of zipline cables. The pair of zipline cables is supported by a pair of cable supports of the trolley. A pair of support carriages of the trolley traverses along the cables and interfaces with the pair of cable supports. The zipline support rail may be curved to change an initial trajectory of the zipline trolley into a final trajectory.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to amusement rides. More particularly, the present invention relates to ziplining systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A zip-line (or zip line, zipline, zip wire, or aerial runway) generally consists of a pulley suspended on a cable, usually made of stainless steel, mounted on a slope. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on to, or attaching to, the freely moving pulley. Ziplines come in many forms, most often used as a means of entertainment. Ziplines may be short and low, intended for child's play and found on some playgrounds. Longer and higher rides are often used as a means of accessing remote areas, such as a rainforest canopy. Zip line tours are becoming popular vacation activities, which are found at outdoor adventure camps or upscale resorts, where they may be an element on a larger challenge or ropes course.

Current zip lining provides a singular aspect of simulated flying from point to point. While it can be fun, it follows a substantially linear path and is lacking other components of dynamic flight. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system which enables directional changes at any point during a zip line ride. Directional changes mid flight provide enhanced enjoyment for the ride, enabling the rider to be put through various maneuvers such as turns, drops, spirals, spins, or maneuvers through or around obstacles for a more thrilling and exciting ride.

Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Additional advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the detailed description of the invention section. Further benefits and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a curved zipline support rail according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the zipline trolley in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention. References herein to “the preferred embodiment”, “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or “alternative embodiments” should be considered to be illustrating aspects of the present invention that may potentially vary in some instances, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as a whole.

The present invention is an arrangement for a zipline system that allows the zipline trajectory to be diverted at any desired angle at various stations throughout the zipline. The majority of the current application will focus on a single instance of a zipline station with the understanding that multiple zipline stations may be arranged together to form a custom zipline rider course.

In general, referring to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a zipline support rail 1, a zipline trolley 2, and a pair of zipline cables 3. The zipline support rail 1 is mounted stationary relative to the ground at a desired station point along a zipline rider course. The zipline trolley 2 rides atop the pair of zipline cables 3, which direct the zipline trolley 2 onto the zipline support rail 1.

The pair of zipline cables 3 may be manufactured of any desired material and using any desired method as appropriate and known or new in the art. In some embodiments, each of the pair of zipline cables 3 may be a single unbroken cable from the beginning to the end of the zipline rider course. The present invention utilizes a double cable system for redundancy and alignment purposes. In some embodiments, the pair of zipline cables 3 may break at the zipline support rail 1. For example, in one embodiment, each of the pair of zipline cables 3 may comprise a first cable portion and a second cable portion, with the first cable portion being connected to the proximal end 13 of the zipline support rail 1, and the second cable portion being connected to the distal end 14 of the zipline support rail 1. Furthermore, one or more tensioning mechanisms may be included and operatively configured together with each of the pair of zipline cables 3 in order to adjust the tension of the pair of zipline cables 3 between zipline stations.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the zipline support rail 1 comprises a rail body 11, a pair of cable supports 12, a proximal end 13, and a distal end 14. The rail body 11 is the main structural member of the zipline support rail 1, and the rail body 11 extends longitudinally between the proximal end 13 and the distal end 14. The proximal end 13 may be understood to be the end of the zipline support rail 1 the zipline trolley 2 first comes into contact with as the zipline trolley 2 travels along the pair of zipline cables 3 toward the zipline support rail 1 while progressing along the zipline rider course. The zipline trolley 2 engages with the zipline support rail 1 between the proximal end 13 and the distal end 14. After traversing across the zipline support rail 1, the zipline trolley 2 exits the zipline support rail 1 at the distal end 14 and continues along the zipline rider course along the pair of zipline cables 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the zipline support rail 1 may be curved and configured to change an initial trajectory 4 of the zipline trolley 2 into a final trajectory 5. To do so, the zipline support rail 1 is oriented parallel to the initial trajectory 4 at the proximal end 13 and the parallel to the final trajectory 5 at the distal end 14. Any change of trajectory angle of the zipline trolley 2 may conceivably be obtained through appropriate construction of the zipline support rail 1. For example, the zipline support rail 1 may be configured to change the initial trajectory 4 by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, or any other desired angle, clockwise or counterclockwise, into the final trajectory 5. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the zipline support rail 1 comprises a rail support 16 that is connected to the rail body 11 between the pair of cable supports 12. The rail support 16 may then be connected to a stanchion or some other supporting structure permanently affixed into the ground in order to support the zipline support rail 1. The rail support 16 should extend upwards from the rail body 11, since the nature of zipline rides necessitates the rider be positioned beneath the zipline cables 3.

The pair of cable supports 12 is connected to the rail body 11 and oriented longitudinally. It is noted herein that the longitudinal direction is generally considered to be parallel to the rail body 11 and thus to the path of travel of the zipline trolley 2 across the zipline support rail 1. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment the pair of cable supports 12 is positioned laterally opposite each other on the rail body 11, and the pair of zipline cables 3 is positioned within the pair of cable supports 12. In the preferred embodiment, the zipline support rail 1 resembles a sideways I-beam. The purpose of the pair of cable supports 12 is twofold: to serve as an interface point between the pair of zipline cables 3 and the zipline support rail 1, and to permit the zipline trolley 2 to traverse across the zipline support rail 1 between the proximal end 13 and the distal end 14. To this end, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the pair of cable supports 12 comprises a tube support 17 and a tube 18. The tube support 17 is perpendicularly connected to the rail body 11, and the tube 18 is connected to the tube support 17 opposite the rail body 11. Thus, the tube 18 is supported above the rail body 11. One of the pair of zipline cables 3 is positioned within the tube 18 for each of the pair of cable supports 12. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the pair of zipline cables 3 enters and traverses through the tube 18 of the pair of cable supports 12, and the pair of zipline cables 3 is thus laterally constrained relative to the zipline support rail 1 by the pair of cable supports 12. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the tube 18 for each of the pair of cable supports 12 should be greater than but close to the diameter of the pair of zipline cables 3, enabling as smooth a transition as possible as the zipline trolley 2 rolls off the pair of zipline cables 3 and onto the pair of cable supports 12.

The zipline trolley 2 is the interfacing means between the zipline system and a user, or rider. The rider is attached to the zipline trolley 2 by a harness and the zipline trolley 2 is propelled from the beginning to the end of the zipline rider course along the pair of zipline cables 3, typically by gravity, through it is contemplated that various mechanical acceleration devices may be employed in various embodiments to propel the zipline trolley 2 across the zipline rider course, such as, but not limited to, kicker devices, wherein motor-driven wheels engage the zipline trolley 2 and accelerate the zipline trolley 2 along the zipline rider course. In the preferred embodiment, the zipline trolley 2 comprises a rider support 21 and a pair of support carriages 22. The pair of support carriages 22 is connected laterally opposite each other along the rider support 21, and is configured to interface with one of the pair of zipline cables 3. More particularly, each of the pair of support carriages 22 is configured to traverse one of the pair of zipline cables 3 with minimal friction through the use of one or more wheel.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the pair of support carriages 22 comprises a housing 23, at least one wheel 24, and a connecting member 25. The connecting member 25 is connected between the rider support 21 and the housing 23, serving to elevate the housing 23 above the rider support 21 for each of the pair of support carriages 22. The at least one wheel 24 is rotatably connected within the housing 23 and configured to toll atop one of the pair of zipline cables 3. In some embodiments, the housing 23 is oriented longitudinally, parallel to the zipline cables 3, and the at least one wheel 24 comprises a pair of wheels, longitudinally separated from each other and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, such that the rolling direction of the pair of wheels is parallel to the zipline cables 3. Thus, as the support carriages 22 roll atop the zipline cables 3, the rider is suspended beneath the zipline cables 3 and is carried along the zipline rider course defined by the pair of zipline cables 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the pair of support carriages 22 further comprises a clasp 26. The clasp 26 is releasably engaged between the connecting member 25 and the housing 23, wherein the clasp 26 is configured to constrain one of the pair of zipline cables 3 between the clasp 26 and the housing 23. A hinge point of the clasp 26 is connected to the housing 23, and a distal end 14 of the clasp 26 opposite the hinge point is trapped against a protrusion 29 of the housing 23 positioned adjacent the at least one wheel 24 opposite the connecting member 25. The clasp 26 is spring-loaded to rotate the distal end 14 of the clasp 26 away from the connecting member 25 and toward the protrusion 29, thus closing the clasp 26. With one of the pair of zipline cables 3 trapped between the clasp 26 and the housing 23 for each of the pair of support carriages 22, the zipline trolley 2 is secured against becoming disengaged from the zipline cables 3 due to wind, rider activity, or other interference.

Correspondingly, in the preferred embodiment, the zipline support rail 1 further comprises a clasp disengagement arm 15. The clasp disengagement arm 15 is connected to the proximal end 13 of the zipline support rail 1, and is configured to disengage the clasp 26 of each of the pair of support carriages 22 as the zipline trolley 2 reaches the proximal end 13 of the zipline support rail 1. In the preferred embodiment, the clasp disengagement arm 15 extends longitudinally from the proximal end 13 away from the distal end 14, and is connected between the pair of cable supports 12, forming a generally parabolic shape with the vertex of the parabolic shape extended outward from the proximal end 13 of the zipline support rail 1. The clasp disengagement arm 15 is designed to disengage the clasp 26 of each of the pair of support carriages 22 as the zipline trolley 2 engages with the zipline support rail 1, and as described, as the zipline trolley 2 approaches the zipline support rail 1, the clasp disengagement arm 15 makes contact with the clasp 26 of each of the support carriages 22, rotating the clasps 26 outward toward the connecting member 25. The space formerly occupied by the clasps 26 is then vacated, allowing the vacated space to be newly occupied by the pair of cable supports 12 as the zipline trolley 2 traverses across the zipline support rail 1.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the rider support 21 of the zipline trolley 2 comprises a support base 27 and a rider attachment 28. The pair of support carriages 22 is connected to the support base 27, and the rider attachment 28 is connected to the support base 27 opposite the pair of support carriages 22. More particularly, the rider attachment 28 may be rotatably connected to the support base 27 in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the rider attachment 28 may spin freely, allowing the rider to spin freely beneath the zipline trolley 2 throughout the zipline rider course. In some embodiments, the rider attachment 28 is selectively engaged with the support base 27 in one of a plurality of orientations, such as, but not limited to, forward-facing, backward-facing, left-facing, and right-facing. In some embodiments, this configuration is achieved by the rider attachment 28 comprising an indexing hook. An arbitrary zipline station of the zipline rider course may further comprise an indexing arm, connected either to the zipline support rail 1 or to the stanchion or other supporting structure of the arbitrary zipline station, such that when the zipline support trolley engages with the arbitrary zipline station, the indexing arm interfaces with the indexing hook, turning the rider attachment 28 by a desired angle such as a position index of the indexing hook or a specified angle.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A trajectory changing zipline system comprises: a zipline support rail; a zipline trolley; a pair of zipline cables; the zipline support rail comprises a rail body, a pair of cable supports, a proximal end, and a distal end; the rail body extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end; the pair of cable supports being connected to the rail body and oriented longitudinally; the pair of cable supports being positioned laterally opposite each other on the rail body; the pair of zipline cables being positioned within the pair of cable supports; the zipline trolley comprises a rider support and a pair of support carriages; the pair of support carriages being connected laterally opposite each other along the rider support; each of the pair of support carriages being configured to interface with one of the pair of zipline cables; and the zipline support rail being configured to change an initial trajectory of the zipline trolley into a final trajectory, wherein the zipline trolley engages with the zipline support rail between the proximal end and the distal end, and wherein the zipline support rail is oriented parallel to the initial trajectory at the proximal end and parallel to the final trajectory at the distal end.
 2. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the zipline support rail further comprises a clasp disengagement arm; the clasp disengagement arm being connected to the proximal end; and the clasp disengagement arm being configured to disengage a clasp of each of the pair of support carriages.
 3. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the clasp disengagement arm extending longitudinally from the proximal end away from the distal end.
 4. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the clasp disengagement arm being connected between the pair of cable supports.
 5. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 1 comprises: each of the pair of support carriages comprises a housing, at least one wheel, a connecting member, and a clasp; the connecting member being connected between the rider support and the housing; the at least one wheel being rotatably connected within the housing, wherein the at least one wheel is configured to roll atop one of the pair of zipline cables; and the clasp being releasably engaged between the connecting member and the housing, wherein the clasp is configured to constrain one of the pair of zipline cables between the clasp and the housing.
 6. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the rider support comprises a support base and a rider attachment; the pair of support carriages being connected to the support base; and the rider attachment being connected to the support base opposite the pair of support carriages.
 7. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 6 comprises: the rider attachment being rotatably connected to the support base.
 8. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 1 comprises: each of the pair of cable supports comprises a tube support and a tube; the tube support being perpendicularly connected to the rail body; the tube being connected to the tube support opposite the rail body; and one of the pair of zipline cables being positioned within the tube for each of the pair of cable supports.
 9. The trajectory changing zipline system as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the zipline support rail further comprises a rail support; and the rail support being connected to the rail body between the pair of cable supports. 